OFFICIALS: Man shot himself after being wounded by deputies

A bullet hole in side of a fence with a evidence marker where Los Angeles County Sheriff deputies shot a man at the 200 block of Sunset Street earlier this week in Long Beach CA. Thursday November 7, 2013. (Thomas R. Cordova/Staff Photographer)

LONG BEACH >> A man shot himself after being hit by deputies’ gunfire earlier this week, sheriff’s officials said Thursday.

Los Angeles County sheriff’s Work Release Non-Compliance Team on Tuesday morning were in the area of Sunset Street and Pine Avenue looking for a woman who failed to comply with the terms of her work release. Deputies learned the woman was walking her child to school, sheriff’s Sgt. Diane Hecht said.

“The deputies spotted a man walking with a little girl and stopped to ask them if they knew the whereabouts of the absconder,” Hecht said Thursday. “That’s when he pulled out a gun.”

The unidentified man reportedly shoved his girlfriend’s daughter out of the way and shot at deputies, sheriff’s officials said.

Authorities returned gunfire striking the man.

While on the ground, the man allegedly shot himself, authorities said. It was not clear why the man opened fire on the deputies or why he shot himself.

The child was not injured and was returned to her mother, the wounded man’s girlfriend.

Neither the wounded man or his girlfriend had any connection with the investigation into the woman.

Anyone with information about this incident can call the sheriff’s Homicide Bureau at 323-890-5500.

Anonymous calls can be made by calling “Crime Stoppers” at 800-222-TIPS (8477), texting the letters “TIPLA” plus your tip to CRIMES (274637), or by visiting www.lacrimestoppers.org.